Hundreds of former military leaders push for Romney

Some 500 sign an ad to appear in the Washington Times

Vice Admiral Peter M. Hekman disagreed. Hekman, who left the Navy in 1991 after 40 years, said he taught economics and managed the Naval Sea Systems Command. A self-described conservative, Hekman, 78 of University City, said he supports Romney because he agrees with many of the principles he holds sacred. The Obama administration, from an economic standpoint, has been “criminal,” he said.

“Romney knows what this country needs to get back on its economic feet and also its moral feet,” said Hekman, who is listed in the ad. “We have to get back to individual responsibility and less of this dependence business.”

Hekman added that he feared the president would spend the next four years cutting defense and weakening America’s standing in the world.

“He’s determined to cut defense. And that’s because he failed to read his history books,” Hekman said, recalling the remarks of former President Harry Truman. “The only way to prevent another world war is to establish sectors of strength around the world where they have enough strength present to prevent things from getting out of hand.”

Obama has advocated an agile, slimmer military. Romney has said he would add troops, increase shipbuilding, and peg military spending at 4 percent of GDP.